Iceman&#39;s apron.



No. 729,565. PATENTED JUNE 2', 1903.

' B. W. FLETCHER.

IGEMANSAPRONQ APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 190].

N0 MODEL.

Int/67119014.

zrwrfvchea. 1 W06 3y ga /Wm 0L \1 W J y i No. 729,565.

UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD W. FLETCHER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EDGAR M. BOND, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ICEMANS APRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,565, dated'June 2, 1903.

Application filed October 24, 1901. Serial No. 79,812. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD W. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United Slates, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Icemans Apron, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apron for icelnen. The aprons now used for this purpose simply prevent the ice from coming in contact with the clothes ofthe iceman and are not efficient, because they allow the drippings from the ice to run down on the legs of the iceman, thus wetting and chilling him, also dripping in the entries or places through which the iceman carries the ice.

An apron constructed according to this invention has a pocket across its bottom. This pocket is closed at its side and bottom edges. Said pocket has means consisting of a series of positioning devices across its width to keep the same open. This means is so arranged that the apron is left flexible, so that it can conform to the body of the user and so that the mouth of the pocket will be kept open no matter what shape the apron assumes. Sponges are preferably placed in the pockets. By this construction all the drippings from the ice will be caught'in the pocket, and hence the iceman will not have his legs wet, and the delivery of the ice will be much cleaner and neater than at present. By providingmeans for keeping the pocket open across the width of the apron all drippings from the ice must be received and caught in the pocket. The sponges are used to absorb the drippings and so that the pocket can be cleaned out without removingthe apron from the body.

The invention further consists of details hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of, this application, Figure l is a View of an iceman having one of my improved aprons in use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apron, and Fig. 3is an enlarged sectional view taken through the pocket.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A

designates a rubber apron. The same is preferably turned over and seamed along its edges, as at aa. The apron is provided with shoulder-straps B B, so that it can be Worn on the back, and with eyelets C C, so that, if desired, a string or strap can be inserted, so that the apron can be worn in front. A pocket is formed at the bottom of the apron by turnusing a separate piece. The pocket is bound to the main part of the apron by pieces 6 e to make a pocket closed at its ends or side edges,

and a binding d is also preferably used along .ing up the end of the apron, as at D, or by the bottom of the apron to reinforce the same.

The top of the piece D is turned over, as at d. To keep the pocket open across the width of the apron, rubber plugs-E are inserted at suitable intervals across the width. These plugs are secured in place by rivets F, which pass through the same and the body A and the' flap D of the apron. Rubberwashers 10 I 10 are secured under the rivets, and copper washers 11 are also secured under the heads of the rivets. This provides a simple; means for keeping the pocket open. This is an important point, because when the apron is placed in position on the body the same assumes a cylindrical shape. The means shown will keep the pocket open across the width of the apron no'matter What shape the apron what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An apron having a flap secured to its bottom, the edges of the flap being secured to the sides of the apron to form a, pocket, a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set series of rubber blocks held in place by rivets my hand in the presence of two subscribing passing through the top edge of the flap and witnesses. the body of the apron whereby the apron is EDWARD W. FLETCHER.

5 left flexible, so that it can conform to the body Witnesses:

of the user and so that the pocket will be kept LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE,

open.

M. E. REGAN. 

